Four in defunct Panama Unit plead guilty

McAllen, TEXAS (KVEO NEWSCENTER 23) — The Department of Justice announced that four members of the defunct Panama Unit have been convicted.

The four individuals, Jonathan Trevino, 29, Claudio Mata, 35, and Eric Alcantar, 29, all of McAllen, and Salvador Arguello, 34, of Edinburg, pleaded guilty in court.

Trevino, Arguello, Mata and Alcantar pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. From 2010 to December of 2012 all four used their law enforcement position to steal drugs and currency as members of the Panama Unit drug task force and resell the drugs to other traffickers.

Trevino also admitted to escorting deliveries of cocaine as it traveled through Hidalgo County in exchange for money.

All the individuals face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison along with a fine of up to $10 million dollars.